Why Were People Celebrating Cinco de Mayo at Rocco's Tacos?

New Times Broward-Palm Beach Calendar Editor Mickie Centrone has the enviable job of knowing about every event that happens within the boundaries of the two counties, and then some. When she attends some of the finest events from a given week, we'll post the details of her travels here. On Wednesday, she attended Rocco's Tacos' Cinco de May block party in Boca Raton.

At the Cinco de Mayo block party Wednesday night at Rocco's Tacos in Boca Raton, there are no special decorations in the packed outdoor brick courtyard, where a young man wears a sombrero and two drink holsters. One holster is on his side and the other hangs around his neck, tucking a full drink against his chest. He looks down at his drink and says to his friends, "Dude, my camera's in my drink." It is. He acknowledges it and then does nothing about it. In a few minutes, it'll be 10 p.m.

At the outside bar, my companion and I joke about this holiday Cinco de Mayo. I bet that not one person out and about here tonight has rightful cause to celebrate it. I turn to ask the partier on my left why's he's here.

"Because it's Wednesday," says Michael the businessman with all white hair. "I was here Monday. I was here Tuesday. Monday was dead... Now, Wednesday, it's looking good -- one thousand people here." Michael adds that he offered to take out all of his employees this evening, but they all declined.

This bartender could mix one mean margarita

Photo by Reed Fischer

"It's Wednesday," replies a regular who stands on the side of the bar. "Isn't it humpday?" I get carded, and he laughs. "Seven thousand drunks here," he says, "and you get carded." He says his name is Pancho. I'm dubious. "I'm all Mexican wearing an Irish hat." Pancho is a tall, thick muscular man with a black cabby hat, and thanks to Pancho's regularity, he scores us four very strong margaritas.

Poll: Why are you out tonight?

"It's Cinco de Drinko -- that's what you do!" shouts Danielle.

"So I have a better reason to kill myself," remarks the doomsayer, Mark, as he took a drag of his cigeratte.

"Because I go out every Wednesday," says Shawn. "I don't work on Thursday. I do realize it's Cinco de Mayo, of course. I'm hispanic."

"Same reason Americans go out and drink on Saint Patty's Day," says a woman too drunk to stand. "It's a reason for Americans to celebrate."

On the way out, we rerun into Oscar, the only one this evening with Mexican heritage -- besides the lady mixing margaritas behind the bar.

I ask, "Are you really Mexican?"

"No," Oscar responds, "It's a party, who cares?"

The woman in the blue dress really knew her Mexican history

Photo by Reed Fischer

Sandra, the blonde in the black-and-white striped dress, was out celebrating a friend's birthday

Photo by Reed Fischer

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